Expert advice
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Questions and Answers
Since we receive many questions about cosmetics in our advice section every day, we have finally published them on the website in the ADVICE SECTION. We will be adding more gradually — there is plenty prepared for you.
We advise on everything — clippers, blades, combs... but in the advice section we will only publish questions related to LADY BEL cosmetics.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
I would like to ask what special cosmetics you would recommend for use before a show with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed. My dogs have beautiful, healthy and shiny coats — they are fed ultra-premium food and we use KW shampoo with mink oil + KW conditioner. I am more interested in the final pre-show grooming, as I have no experience with any products and currently use nothing. What final spray would you recommend to achieve a beautiful flowing, cascading coat on the dog's body, and some product to create the impression of thick, beautiful ears? If you know of any product that achieves thick and long ear coat, I would be very grateful for your recommendation. To improve the overall coat, I give them biotin H forte with zinc + Hypercoat oil every day, but I would like to achieve even better ear coat.
I would also like to try some product to cover black spots on the white coat above the muzzle of one of my dogs — if you have experience with anything like that, please advise which product it is.
I would recommend Lady Bel cosmetics. They have several types of shampoos and conditioners (creams). One option is Lady mink shampoo + Lady mink cream, the other is Lady jojoba shampoo + Lady jojoba conditioner. Both options are great. For ear volume (can also be used on the whole body), the Bio cream is fantastic — it firms the coat and makes it fuller. It is very thick and difficult to dilute; it is best to dilute it in hot water and blend with a mixer, otherwise lumps remain, but these can simply be rubbed into the desired area. I do not dilute this cream at all and do not rinse it out — the coat is firm and full.
For the final finish there are also many options: Moisturising spray with mink oil — slightly greasy, or moisturising spray with jojoba oil — also slightly greasy, Demelex — a gloss spray, great for detangling and shine. Or another option: Lady Magic — detangler — it is a leave-in conditioner that contains no oil.
As for covering the black spots, there is a cleansing spray — White spray, but it might be a bit tricky to apply to the nose area.
Yorkie
I have a non-show Yorkie at home — what shampoo and conditioner would you recommend?
For Yorkshire Terriers, Lady mink shampoo + Lady mink cream is perfect. These products contain mink oil but do not make the coat greasy at all — they moisturise and make detangling effortless. Lady mink cream does not need to be rinsed out and can be left in the coat.
Yorkie
I would like to ask which shampoo thoroughly removes oil? Some shampoos do not remove oil at all and the coat remains greasy even after bathing.
From breeders of Yorkshire Terriers specifically, I know that after using Lady jojoba shampoo the coat was completely clean and free of oil residue. Or you can use Lady cleansing shampoo — that will definitely clean the coat of all impurities and oil.
Shih Tzu stains
I have a show Shih Tzu at home and since she is very active, always running outside, and on top of that she is with our other drooling dog, she looks terrible. She is dirty, especially on the paws underneath, the beard and chin. What can I use?
If the dirt is already so deeply ingrained in the coat, the best option is Lady liquid stain remover — it needs to be used regularly, meaning every day. Wash with shampoo — Lady no-rinse shampoo is sufficient — towel dry and apply Lady liquid stain remover so that the coat is sufficiently saturated, then let it dry. Repeat the next day. If you do not use it regularly, the stains will not disappear. But then there is also another solution — Lady stain remover – White spray. Just spray it on the dirty areas shortly before the show and it will cover the stains. It is a powder spray — spray it on, let it dry and brush out the excess. Of course, before the show you need complete care: shampoo + conditioner.
Maltese
Can I dilute mink oil with conditioner?
Both Lady mink oil and MH4 oil can be diluted with any cream, including bio cream — the coat will then not be as greasy. If the oils are diluted only with water they are very greasy and difficult to spread, but in cream they dilute perfectly and are great to work with.
Lhasa Apso
Hello. I have a female Lhasa Apso who has just had puppies — she had 7 little ones, which is quite a lot, and she is now in very poor condition (she is thin, has patchy coat loss and also has dandruff). Please advise what I should buy for her. Thank you for a prompt reply.
We are currently dealing with a similar problem — we also had puppies and our female was completely drained. I highly recommend Bio Groom – Nutrition; it is fantastic for this kind of problem. A visible difference is noticeable after just 7 days. It is given every day for two months, followed by a one-month break. We have received very positive feedback from breeders.
You can also bathe her in Lady sensitive skin shampoo — it is amazing for dandruff. It regenerates, restores and stabilises the skin and coat.
SHIH TZU
I was interested in your new Lady Bel cosmetics — what detangler would be suitable for a Shih Tzu puppy? It is only 3 months old but we are already getting it used to brushing.
This cosmetics range has several types of detanglers. The most effective are the moisturising spray with mink oil or the moisturising spray with jojoba oil — these are aerosol sprays and not every dog tolerates the sound, but if you start getting the puppy used to it from a young age, it will adapt in no time. They moisturise without making the coat greasy, are lightly scented and make detangling effortless. Lightly spray the entire area you want to detangle, spray more on tangled sections. Leave on for a moment, then use your fingers to separate the tangles. Then brush through. Start from the ends of the coat, then gradually work through the entire strands, moving from the belly up to the top of the back or the parting. The coat is perfectly detangled when the brush passes easily through it from the back toward the coat tips. Then there is Lady Magic – detangler, which is an oil-free leave-in conditioner spray. Or then my personal favourite — Demelex – gloss spray, which contains wheat proteins, smells wonderful and detangles the coat beautifully. Just take your pick. I can also send small sample sizes — just send an email.
Dobermann
Hello, we are preparing for our first show with our female Dobermann. What should we bathe her in and what should we use for shine? She has a dull coat and does not look great. She eats ACANA kibble — we were told it is very high quality so I think we are not doing anything wrong there.
For short-coated breeds, Lady protein shampoo is ideal — it restores the coat and skin. Before the show, to make the coat beautifully shiny, spray it with Wooly Warrior – gloss spray, which contains a blend of moisturising oils. It is the greasiest of these aerosol sprays, but the short coat looks perfectly shiny and healthy after using it.
Shih Tzu
Hello, I have a 6-month-old Shih Tzu puppy and I need advice on complete coat care. We are planning to attend shows.
I will copy the complete care routine for shows as well as for everyday use (i.e. home care).
1. Coat care between shows
In every coat care and maintenance programme, this step is the most important. All the time and effort you put in at this stage will pay off on show days. It will greatly simplify your work and contribute to coat preparation at the show. This effort will make your dog stand out in the ring, because their coat will be more radiant, shinier — simply a mirror of health.
The Shih Tzu coat is unique and requires special care and attention from owners. Particular demands are placed on the coat of growing individuals, adult dogs undergoing coat change, from soft dense to harder straighter coat with less undercoat. The duration of the coat change also depends on your care, during which the coat should not be damaged. The right oils in the right amount, brushing with the right tools developed specifically for this coat type, will gently remove the old coat without damaging the new one. Correct brushing technique is important, if for no other reason than to shorten the time spent on grooming. Too much brushing damages even otherwise healthy coat. So when you do brush, be thorough. Brush all the way down to the skin and brush out the dead coat. This method promotes new coat growth and keeps the skin in better condition. It is not possible to have a healthy-looking coat without healthy skin.
Shih Tzus should be bathed at least once every 7 days. For puppies there is a shampoo developed specifically for them — Lady puppy shampoo, which is diluted at a ratio of 1 part shampoo to 3 parts warm water. Care with shampoo alone is sufficient up to approximately 4 months; after that the coat is longer and it is therefore necessary to add a conditioner. There is a choice of two types: Jojoba cream (perfect for fans of plant-based oils) or Mink cream (for fans of animal-based oils). These creams are not greasy. Lady Bel created these conditioners in these two variants because not every dog responds well to one or the other. An allergic reaction to a component may also occur — some dogs are allergic to plant oils and others to animal oils. That is why there is a choice of two options, which many breeders appreciate. Care for an adult dog is more complex. The most difficult period is between 7 and 9 months, when the coat begins to change from puppy to adult coat — this transition lasts several months and requires increased care.
The following is recommended: before using shampoo, apply Lady cleansing shampoo, diluted at a ratio of 1 part shampoo to 12 parts warm water. This shampoo perfectly removes oils, grease and excessive dirt from the coat. Then it is recommended to use Lady white shampoo, diluted at a ratio of 1 part shampoo to 3 parts warm water. All whitening shampoos are blue or purple in colour because these colours optically enhance white. It can also be used on all coat colours — this shampoo perfectly cleans and brightens without lightening the colours. From personal experience, I recommend using Lady sensitive skin shampoo. If you use oil, it is very good for stabilising the skin and coat. Some oils cause dandruff, but with regular use the coat is sufficiently nourished and moisturised, preventing the formation of dandruff. Finally, apply oil — again there is a choice of two: Lady mink oil or Lady MH4 – a blend of moisturising oils. The oils are highly concentrated and are diluted at a ratio of 1 part oil to 15 parts hot water. Oils are very difficult to work with, so hot water is essential. Then wring out the coat, wrap a towel around it and let it absorb the excess water, then blow-dry and thoroughly brush the coat under the dryer. Never use hot air — always use warm air only. The coat needs to be well brushed and combed in the direction of coat growth to prevent splitting of the ends. If the coat is not in a period of change, the oil protects the coat for at least 5–7 days. After applying oil, the important thing is that the coat does not tangle for several days and dries quickly. If the coat is already 5 cm from the ground, it is recommended to wrap it in papers to prevent it from rubbing on the floor.
A coat in poor condition requires increased attention until the condition improves. Many products you may have used previously that are available on our market have completely incorrect pH levels and therefore have a very harmful effect on the dog's coat. They negatively affect the natural coat type and cause coat damage. Restoring the coat afterwards takes some time.
Improvement will be noticeable after just the first treatment with Lady Bel products.
If the dog needs to be brushed between baths, use the top-quality Moisturising spray with mink oil or moisturising spray with jojoba oil. These sprays are fantastic for detangling a matted coat. Lightly spray the entire area you wish to detangle, spray more on heavily tangled sections. Leave on for a moment, then use your fingers to separate the tangles. Then brush through. Start from the ends of the coat, then gradually work through the entire strands, moving from the belly up to the top of the back or the parting. The coat is perfectly detangled when the brush passes easily through it from the back toward the coat tips. Once the coat is well detangled, brush thoroughly through the entire coat with increased pressure toward the skin. When brushing, hold the handle, not the brush head — this saves your shoulder and is also gentler on the coat. We do not recommend brushing a very dirty coat, as dirt causes splitting of the coat ends, which eventually break and snap off. You will then be unable to achieve a smooth and finished coat presentation. If you must brush a dirty coat, do so only in areas that are truly necessary, e.g., very matted sections. Use a sufficient amount of moisturising spray and brush very gently (with a stroking motion). First release the ends of the coat, separate them and you will overcome the matting.
Every show coat should be bathed at least once every 7 days.
2. Coat preparation for show days
Bathe the dog with Lady cleansing shampoo, diluting according to the degree of coat soiling. Then use Lady white shampoo diluted at a ratio of 1 part shampoo to 3 parts warm water. Then use your preferred conditioner — mink cream or jojoba cream — diluted at a ratio of 1 part cream to 3 parts warm water. If the dog has a lot of coat and you need to reduce volume, do not rinse out the cream, or rinse only partially. If you need to add volume to the coat, use the Volume cream. Either spray the cream into the coat or simply apply it to the entire coat. You can make a mixture of water and conditioner in a basin large enough for the dog. Place the dog in the basin and pour the mixture over them until the coat is sufficiently saturated with conditioner. Then rinse the coat with lukewarm water, gradually switching to cold water. Finishing the rinse with cold water gives the coat a firmer texture. Hot (warm) water tends to soften and weaken the coat. Similarly, drying with hot air has the same effects — it is better to dry the coat with warm air.
Dry the coat after squeezing out excess water and blotting with a dry clean towel, especially with very dense coats. If you cannot work with the coat immediately and if over-drying is making your coat problems worse, wrap the coat in a damp towel. Dry gradually in small sections. It is best to start with the show side (the side facing the judge) — e.g., the middle section, hindquarters, shoulder, upper parts of the limbs. It is better to dry the coat with the dog lying on its side, drying the belly in small sections (between the line of the limbs), then the limbs and the inner parts of the limbs. The chest can be dried with the dog in a sitting position, brushing and drying in the direction of coat growth. Never brush against the direction of coat growth unless the entire coat is perfectly detangled. Brushing against the direction of growth weakens and stresses the coat. There should not be much coat left in the brush, except during the coat change period (shedding). If this is not the case, you are brushing incorrectly — check your technique.
Incorrect technique damages the coat, strains your wrist and shoulder, and shortens the lifespan of the brush. If the coat is naturally silky, you can spray it with Lady Magic – detangler while drying. This product significantly improves coat texture and prevents fine coat from flying about. It is not oily and therefore does not cause the coat to separate into strands. It can also be used with a straightening iron.
At the show
Clean a soiled coat with Lady Dry Bath – no-rinse shampoo. Spray onto the soiled coat, dry with a clean dry towel and repeat if necessary. Then blow-dry and style as usual. If the coat needs to be blow-dried and you have no other option, use Dry shampoo – Brushing powder for cleaning.
At the show, the coat is finished with products suitable for the given coat type. Anti-static sprays (Lady Magic, moisturising spray with mink oil, moisturising spray with jojoba oil, Demelex – gloss spray, etc.) — different coats respond to different products. It is best to experiment at home to find what suits your dog at shows, as every dog has different coat needs and every judge appreciates something different.
Dogue de Bordeaux
Please — I saw that you have Bordeaux Mastiffs. What do you bathe them in and how do you care for the coat?
I do not really care much about the coat — in summer they go swimming in lakes, so I do nothing in summer, and in winter I only bathe before a show. I use Lady protein shampoo and before the show I spray it with moisturising spray with jojoba oil for coat shine. I wipe it with a towel and it looks brand new :))
Wrapping in papers
How should I go about wrapping the coat in papers?
The coat must be treated with oil; otherwise it would break inside the papers. It is best to bathe the dog — shampoo + conditioner + oil — blow-dry, and then wrap. Wet coat (water) must not go into the papers. Take a strand of approximately 7 cm, place it in a paper, fold it in half lengthways, then fold in half once more, then fold in half widthways and again in half, and secure with an elastic band. Repeat this process all over the body. I hope this makes sense. If not, I can send photos by email.
Dandruff
My dog gets dandruff with every shampoo. What should I give him to prevent it?
The special shampoo for this problem is Lady sensitive skin shampoo — the difference is visible after just two baths. I have a Shih Tzu and after every oil application he would get dandruff; after two baths (using this as the final shampoo) the dandruff disappeared completely. I now use it at every bath.